WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 28 [Main Title]

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  • Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 28 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: WPN 28
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
  • Description: I. 'CYPRUS.' Title overlaid on map of the Eastern Mediterranean. Views of the rugged coastline of Cyprus, followed by a panoramic view of hills and fields. Cypriot children wade in pools created by a waterfall. Agricultural scenes of grain threshing and ploughing are contrasted with the bustle of the port facilities at Famagusta. Food supplies are unloaded from a merchant ship and hoisted to the quayside. British infantry in pith helmets disembark from a merchant troopship as a mobile generator is unloaded. British soft-skinned vehicles and troops leave the port area. Commentary states "Cyprus is being turned into an armed camp, fortified and manned to resist any Axis blitz." British soft-skinned vehicles drive through the outskirts of a Cypriot village. The vehicles reach their destination and British infantry carrying kitbags and Lee-Enfield .303-in rifles dismount. The soldiers dump their personal gear and relax in the shade of an olive grove. British troops dig trenches while others wash their kit in an outdoor laundry. Elsewhere, Cypriot civilians operate woodworking equipment under the shade of a "lean-to" roof. Cypriot civilians level the ground in preparation for the construction of an RAF airfield. British infantry dig trenches and prepare anti-aircraft emplacements as a gun crew checks the traverse mechanism of a newly unloaded Vickers-Armstrong 3.7-in anti-aircraft gun. Bare chested British troops fill sandbags in preparation of another emplacement as a Vickers-Armstrong 3.7-in anti-aircraft gun is hoisted into position in its gun pit. A pair of British Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish aircraft take off from a grass strip and fly in formation (no unit markings). II. 'SINGAPORE.' Views of the seafront area of Singapore with merchant shipping navigating the Straits in the background. Singapore is described by the commentary as being "Britain's greatest and most important naval and air base in the Far East." Sampans are unloaded in the busy harbour area of the city. Street scenes in the Chinese quarter are followed by a view of the imposing frontage of the Raffles Hotel. A Pan American Airways California Clipper flying boat lands with Alfred Duff Cooper (British Minister of Information) and his wife Diana Cooper. The Minister is met by Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham (C-in-C Far East). Elsewhere, representatives of the Chinese population present Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival (General Officer Commanding Malaya) with a traditionally embroidered victory banner as British troops parade. A Universal Carrier detachment of the Gordon Highlanders mount their vehicles after inspection and demonstrate the carriers abilities to negotiate rough terrain. Indian troops operate an anti-aircraft rangefinder as a Bofors 40mm L/60 anti-aircraft gun is manhandled into an emplacement. III. 'THE SHELLING OF THE BISMARCK.' British aircraft carrier HMS Victorious is anchored in an unidentified port facility as Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish aircraft are manoeuvred by naval ratings from the ship's main lift area onto the flight deck. A group of Fleet Air Arm pilots pose by their aircraft following their audacious attack on the German Battleship KM Bismarck. An FAA Lieutenant explains (live) how glad he was to hit such a good target. A battle-damaged Fairey Swordfish aircraft is displayed for the benefit of the camera. Royal Navy sailors clean the 8-in main armament of HMS Norfolk as the commentary explains the ship's important role in shadowing the Bismarck. Captain Phillips explains (live) of his ships involvement "from start to finish" in the successful naval engagement. The crew of HMS Norfolk wave and cheer with the ship's gun turret and Supermarine Walrus aircraft evident in the background. Leading Seaman White explains (live) how he was the first of the ship's crew to spot the Bismarck. Elsewhere, on HMS Rodney, sailors hoist 16-in shells from the ship's magazine. The shells are placed on two wheeled trailers for ease of movement on Rodney's deck. An unidentified Royal Navy sailor explains the climax of the naval engagement that resulted in the sinking of KM Bismarck (sunk 27th May 1941). The blistered paint on HMS Rodney's 16-in guns are displayed as a sign of the ferocity of the engagement. A battle honours plaque bearing the title "Bismarck" is mounted on the bridge of HMS Rodney. Commentary explains that HMS Dorsetshire delivered the coup de grace that finished the Bismarck, over scenes of Admiral Wellwood-Maxwell congratulating the ship's crew for their role in the battle. Footage of HMS King George V as it apparently engages the Bismarck with its primary and secondary armaments. The silhouette of KM Bismarck is clearly visible on the horizon. Commentary points out that of a complement of two thousand men on the Bismarck, only one hundred were saved. German survivors of the naval engagement are returned to a British port and are described by the commentary as being "fortunate to have fallen into the hands of a chivalrous foe." The German sailors are helped into waiting ambulances by Royal Navy personnel. A V Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty) conveys the thanks of the Admiralty to the officers and men of HMS Rodney. Alexander addresses the crew in terms of the sinking of the Bismarck being vengeance for other lost comrades and shipmates. The ship's crew give three cheers for the First Lord of the Admiralty.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: WPN 28
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1941-10-06
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Cooper, (Alfred) Duff (person) Cooper, Diana Olivia Winifred Maud (person) Brooke-Popham, Robert Moore 'Henry' (person) Alexander, Albert Victor (person) Wellwood-Maxwell (Admiral) (person) Phillips (Captain) (person) Martin, B C S (person) Royal Navy, Victorious (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Norfolk (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Rodney (regiment/service) Royal Navy, DORSETSHIRE (HMS), heavy cruiser (regiment/service) Royal Navy, King George V (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: operations, British military - preparation (object name) defences, Cypriot - emplacement (object name) supplies, British, movement [RA] - food (object name) ceremonies, Malayan - state (object name) ships, German naval - battleship: Bismarck (object name) ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Victorious (object name) ships, British naval - cruiser: Norfolk (object name) ships, British naval - cruiser: Dorsetshire (object name) ships, British naval - battleship: Rodney (object name) ships, British naval - battleship: King George V (object name) prisoners of war, German - movement (object name) Cyprus (geography) Malaya & Singapore (geography) Singapore (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: French & Arabic
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 900 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    WPN 28

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